Match box



Feb. 11, 1930. c, IL Y 1 1,746,290

MATCH BOX Filed Dec. 12, 1928 Inventor Cf adv/77 Attarnqy Patented Feb. 11, 1930 y UNI-TEDSTA TES PATENT OFFICE- oAssIiis est/tinny, or ennnnsnime, INDIANA 1 Maren "Box 1 Application filed December 12, 1928. ser al No. 325,487.

will at all times be positive and efficient in is its operation, the same being of such construction, as to adapt its use upon automobiles, cigar stands and the like within convenient reach.

A further and important object is to proat vide a match box of the above mentioned numerals indicate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a match box embodying my invention,

Figure 2 isa fragmentary perspective view i of the upper portion of the casing showing the closure lid disengaged therefrom and the upper portion of the match box protruding above the open upper portion of the casing,

Figure 3 is a topplan view of the casing I with the lid removed for more clearly disclosing the leaf spring arranged in the bottom of the casing, Figure 4 is a sectional View taken approxia mately on the line 4 l of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 isa detail perspective view of the leaf spring per se.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a substantially rectangular shaped ing '1, the container 7 is held within the casmetallic casing that is open at its top and as is more clearly shown in Figure 2, the upper portion of this casing is reduced for receiving flanged lids or cap 2 that has a sliding fit with the reduced portion?) of the casing. The top face of the removable lid or cap is primed with a striking surf-ace 4. As is clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the front side of thecasingis-formed with anenlarged centrally located opening 5 that extends upwardly from the lower edge portion of the casing to the intermediate portion thereof. This side of the casingis furthermore formed with a longitudinally extending slot 6 at the lower edge thereof and this slot ex- 5 tends from one side of "the opening 5 to the adjacent endof the casing to form a restricted passage for the delivery of a single match in the manner to be presently described.

Adapted tobe removably disposed within the casing l is the container 7 in which the *matches areconfined, the front side of the container being i open. The container is placedwithinthe casing 1 in such a manner as to dispose the heads of the notches remotelyfrom the slot 6 and this is clearly shown in Figure 1. WVhen the lid 2 is fitted over the reduced upper portion 30f the casingm I p Also forming a salientpart of the, present invention is the leaf spring 8 that is -secured at one end within the bottom of the casing 1 and this leaf spring hasa tendency to normally 'urge the ackagc or container of matches 7 upwarc ly as shown very clearly inFigures 1 and 4. a I The intermediate portion of the forward longitudinal side of the leaf spring is cut away as at9 to coincide with the opening 5 andin Figure 5 of the drawing, there is shown indet-ail theconstruction of the leaf spring element per se. i i a Any appropriate means may be provided for attaching the match box to a support and the device is capable of being attached tothe instrument board of an automobile, uponaycigar stand, where the same can be conveniently reached;

In use, the matches are held within the casing against accidental discharge by reason of the leaf spring 8. However whenever a person desires to light a cigarette or cigar, the forefinger is placed in the opening 5 and a downward pressure is exerted on the matches so as to move the free end of the leaf spring 8 downwardly a ainst the bottom of the casing and this wi 1 result in the lowermost match being ositioned in registration with the slot 6 w ereupon the alined match may be readily withdrawn from the case and the head of the match may be caused through the crossly striking surface, to ignite the same. i p

In this manner, only one match will be delivered during each operation of the match box and furthermore the opening 5 provides a means for enabling a person to readily ascertain when the match box must be refilled. While I have shown the match box as being adapted to receive and hold snugly the original paste board box or container of a penny box of domestic box of matches, the device can equally be operated without a container for the matches and loose matches may be placed in the casing. While I have shown the match box as being adapted to receive a package or container of matches, the device can be equally operated without a container for the matches and loose matches may be placed in the casing.

A match box of the above mentioned character can be constructed at a very low cost and the same will at all times be positive and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed. .Also dueto its simplicity of construction, the match box can be manufactured and sold at a very low cost. While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and 2. A match box of the class described comprising an open top casing adapted to receive a supply of matches disposed in longitudinally stacked relation, a closure for the open top casing, the front side of the casing being formed with a central opening that extends upwardly from the lower edge to the intermediate portion thereof, said front side being formed with a longitudinally extending slot that extends from one side of the central opening to the adjacent end of the casing, the lower edge of the longitudinal slot being disposed adjacent the bottom of the casing to provide a restricted passage for the discharge of a single match, and a leaf spring attached at one end to the bottom of the easing at a point remote of the slot, the free end portion of the leaf sprin engaging the stack of matches for norma ly urging the same upwardly and to maintain the lowermost match of the stack above the slot.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature CASSIUS C. SMILEY.

arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

' 1. A match box of the class described, a casing formed in one side with an opening in the intermediate portion thereof andwhich opening extends from the bottom of the casing to the intermediate portion thereof, said side of the casing being further formed with a longitudinal slot that extends from one side of the opening to the adjacent end of the casing and being located at the bottom edge of said side to provide a restricted passage for the delivery of a single match, and means within the casing for normally urging the matches upwardly and to maintain the lowermost match abovethe slot, saidlast mentioned means comprising a leaf spring secured at one end in the bottom of the easing remotely of the slot. 

